Adjustable display device



Dec. 22, 1964 D. M. GANZ ADJUSTABLE DISPLAY DEVICE "2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 8, 1962 FIG.2

INVENTOR. OAlV/EL M 6'4:

HTIUEM'YS l 2 I i I I I i Dec. 22, 1964 D. M. GANZ 3,162,148

ADJUSTABLE DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Nov. 8, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. /0

{ INVENTOR.

ttes Pate Fir 3,162,148 ADJUSTABLE DiSPLAY DEVKIE Daniel M. Ganz, Rocliville Centre, N.Y., assignor to Darrel Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Nov. 8, 1962, Ser. No. 237,434 2 Claims. Cl. 108-10) This invention relates to a merchandise rack and more particularly to a visual display assembly having a plurality of vertically superposed adjustable trays for visually displaying merchandise. This is a continuation-in-part of my application, Serial No. 132,366, filed August 18, 1961, and entitled Adjustable Tray, now abandoned.

Various types of merchandise display racks have been in the past developed which are adapted for use in displaying merchandise of various types. However, these display racks are generally so arranged that the merchandise which is mounted at the lowermost portions of the display racks are generally hidden from view. In the alternative, other arrangements have been devised wherein the merchandise racks do not extend below two or three feet above the floor level so that a considerable amount or" space is wasted.

The present invention has for its primary object the provision of a visual display assembly for merchandising various types of goods that allows all of the merchandise to be readily viewed by the prospective purchaser.

Another object of the invention is in the provision of a merchandise rack for use in a visual display assembly which includes a plurality of vertically superposed trays which may be arranged to extend all the way down to a position almost immediately adjacent the floor and which is arranged to permit the lowermost tray to be pivoted to a tilted position to allow all of the merchandise being displayed to be readily seen.

An additional object of the invention resides in the provision of adjustable means for mounting a plurality of trays on suitable supports so that the trays may be longitudinally adjusted relative to the supports and may be tilted so as to permit all of the goods being displayed to be readily seen.

Various types of display racks have been provided for merchandising greeting cards, picture postcards, and the like. However, it is necessary that all of the space used in displaying these greeting cards be used to greatest advantage and therefore the present invention serves to permit a greater number of greeting cards and the like to be morereadily displayed and more easily seen in the smallest possible space while also being adapted to display all of the greeting cards because of the particular construction of the tray employed.

Yet another object of the invention resides in the provision of a merchandise rack which has means for positively locking and holding the vertically superposed trays in suitably adjusted positions so that the merchandise thereon is optimumly displayed.

The construction of this invention features a visual display assembly comprising a pair of spaced substantially vertically extending supports carried by suitably spaced stands. and a plurality of vertically superposed trays are secured to the supports by means of brackets "and plates. The

brackets are vertically adjustable by suitable fasteners adapted for securement to the vertical supports and are secured to the rear Walls of thetrays. The trays are provided with opaque bottoms and transparent front walls. The brackets are formed with first and second pivotally connected plates, one of which is secured to the support and the other to the trays. In the first plate there is carried a spring detent pin and the second plate has a The supports may be joined to form a frame 7 plurality of spaced apertures formed therein along an are about the pivotal interconnection of the plates. The detent pin is engageable with one of the apertures in a selective manner so as to hold the trays in their tilted adjusted position.

Still further objects and features of the present invention reside in the provision of a visual display assembly which is of simple construction, capable of being mass produced at a relatively low cost, which is strong and durable, and which is attractive in appearance.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of the invention which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, me attained by this visual display apparatus, a preferred embodiment of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the visual display apparatus comprisingthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged exploded sectional detail view taken along the plane of line 22 in FIG. 1 illustrating the manner in which the plates are secured to the supports but showing the plates detached from the support;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating the manner in which the plates are engaged with the support;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but illustrating one of the trays in an adjusted pivoted position;

FIG. 5 is a detail view illustrating one of the trays in plan view with a portion of one of the trays and the support being shown in section for greater clarity;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial elevational view of one of the trays and associated bracket; 7

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional detail view taken along the plane of line 7-7 in FIG. 3 illustrating one possible form of detent used for engagement within one of the apertures in the bracket;

FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view illustrating the construction of one of the brackets and associated plate;

FIG. 9'is a partial perspective view of a pair of trays mounted in a slightly difierent environment and spe-' cifically on vertical supports secured to a vertical wall;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view similar to that of FIG. 3 illustrating a d-ilferent form of bracket construction;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 4 illustrating a tilted position for the bracket of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a View taken along a horizontal section of the assembly shown in FIG. 9 illustrating the juxtaposed position of the brackets employed in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 9; and,

FIG. 13 .is a sectional view taken along the line 1313 of FIG. 12 illustrating the construction of the spring loaded detent used in the brackets illustrated in FIGS. 10, 11 and 12.

Referring now to the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally designates a first illustrative embodiment of the invention. This visual display assembly 10 includes a pair of stands 12 and 14 which have fastened thereto a frame 16 including a pair of supports 18 and Z0 interconnected at the top and bottom thereof by transverse members 22 and 24 and to which a plurality of display trays 26, 28, 3t), 32 and 34 are adjustably secured.

The stands l2, 14 are substantially identical and are arranged in parallel spaced relationship and includes substantially rectangular portions 42, 44 from each of Whichdepends a pair of legs 41?, 48 and 5d, 52 respectively. Each of the rectangular portions 42 and 44 have spaced horizontal portions 54, 56 and 58, 6t) interconnected by spaced vertical portions 62, 64 and 66, 68. v i

Each of the supports'lS and 20 are of substantially identical construction and may be of rectangular tubular shape having rows of through apertures or openings 8t) and 82 therein. These apertures are for the purpose of Y a slightly different form of tilting bracket.

3 receiving the hook-like projections 84 and 86 may be of any desired shape so as to permit insertion through the apertures 89 and thereafter to hold the plate 88 in a vertically disposed position normal to the supports 18 and 20. As shown, the hook 84 has a rectangular portion 90 extending above the plate 88 and is connected at a point medial its ends by a neck 92 to the main portion of the plate 88. The hook 86 has a rectangular hook portion connected at its upper end by. means of a neck 94 to the main portion of plate 88.

Each of the trays are of substantially identical construction so that only one tray 26 which is illustrated in detail in the drawing need be considered specifically for the purpose of understanding this invention. The tray 26 has a real wall which is pivotally for-med from an opaque material and has a plurality of slots 102, 1G4, and 106, 108 therein. These slots permit fasteners 11% and 112 to be used in securing a substantially L-shaped bracket 114 to the rear wall 100. The fasteners 110, 112 may be in the form of bolts or. screws and nuts 116 and 118 may be used to secure the fasteners 110, 112 in posi tion holdingthe bracket 114 to the tray 26. Each of the brackets 114 has a portion 12% which lies flush with the rear wall 100 and a portion 122 which extends normal to the wall 103. This portion 122 extends substantially parallel to the plate 88 and is pivoted thereto by a rivet, pin or like fastener 126. This pin may be of the spring pressed type as may be found desirable. The portion 122 has three apertures 130, 132, 134 arranged in spaced relationship about a radius from the pivot 126. A detent 140 is adapted to be threaded into the thickened portion 142 of the plate 88 so that it can extend into one of the apertures 130, 132 and 134 to hold the plate 88 in position with respect to the rest of the bracket 114. As can be seen best in FIG. 7 the detent has a head 146, threaded shank portion 148, and a hemispherical portion 150 designed to fit in the apertures 130, 132 and 134.

When the detent is seated in the aperture 130 as shown in FIG. 2, the tray 26 is in a vertical position. However, when the tray is tilted so that the detent extends successively into the apertures 132, and 134, the tray will be tilted so that the bottom of the tray will extend upwardly and outwardly from the supports. Each of the trays includes a bottom 160 formed of an opaque material and a front wall 162 which is preferably formed out of a suitable transparent material such as transparent plastic. Braces of any suitable nature 164 may be used to reinforce the construction.

Referring now to FIGS. 9 through 13, there is shown the adjustable display device according to the present invention in a slightly different environment and utilizing V Specifically, a. pair of trays 34, 36, similar to trays 26 through 34 of FIG. 1, are shown supported on vertical standards 202, 204 which are supported in the usual manner on a vertical board, wall or the like 206. Brackets 214, 216 are utilized to adjustably mount the shelves 34, 36 on the standards 202, 294.

The brackets214, 216, best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, each consist of a first plate 218 and a second plate 22% joined together for respective pivotal motion at a shelf pivot 226.

'The shelf pivot 226, as the pivot 126 of the bracket 114,

may be formed of any convenient means such as a rivet.

"The first plate 218 is formed with extensions 285, 290

identical to those'des'cribed above and illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 and are utilized to secure the brackets 214,

216 to'the standardsz2tl2, 294' The 1 second plates 22%) are'providcd with integral right angle extensions 222 which have attachment means for securing the shelves thereto by means such as the illustrated nutsand bolts. I

It will be appreciated that in many environments a retail merchant is required to utilize every available space for display of merchandise. Thisfis particularly soin v the retailing of greeting card and relatednovelties. Thus; it is standardpracticein this field to inount display devices in immediate proximity to each other. Thus, where two such elements are mounted together, access to the side edges of one device is restricted by the close position of the next adjacent device. Where in the past adjustable shelf mounting brackets were provided which might be adjusted by turning and removing screws, the mounting of one such shelf bracket in close proximity to another obviated the advantageous features provided by the adjustment mechanisms. Thus, it is desirable to provide an adjustment means which may be operated by the use of finger pressure and which requires no more space than the thickness of one finger between adjacent display devices.

The brackets 214, 216 are constructed to provide for tilting adjustment of the display shelf mounted on the brackets by simple finger pressure and to require a separation between adjacent brackets of only an amount equal to the thickness of a finger. Specifically, a pin loaded detent device, having a protruding pin 232, is mounted on the first plate 218 at a location removed from the shelf pivot 226. The second plate 220 is provided with a plurality of pin-receiving openings 234, 236, 238 positioned along an are drawn about the shelf pivot 226 at a radius equal to the distance between the shelf pivot 226 and the detent 236. Thus, the pin 232 of the detent 230 is engaged through a selected one of the pin-receiving openings 234, 236, 238 to securely position the second plate 221) with respect to the first plate 218.

Referring to P16. 13, it is seen that the spring loaded detent 230 comprises a cylindrical housing 240 which is rigidly secured in an opening 242 in the first plate 218. The housing is formed with a reduced diameter lip at its rear such that an end disk 246 is held in the rear end. A coil spring 248 is positioned inwardly of a plate 246 and the movable pin 232, with its enlarged end 234, is positioned at the other end of the housing 240. It will be appreciated that the pin 232 may be moved against the bias force of the spring 248 inwardly into the housing 240 such that the rounded nose of the pin 232 is moved into coplanar relationship with the face of the first plate 218. When the pressure on the pin 232 is released, the spring 24% will force the pin outwardly into one of the pin receiving openings of the second plate 220.

Adjustment of the brackets 214, 216, and therefore of the shelves, is easily accomplished simply by applying finger pressure to the ends of the pins 232 to press same inwardly below the level of the pin-receiving openings of the respective second plates 220 and then pivoting the second plates and shelves mounted thereon about the shelf pivots 226 until the pins 232 are aligned with the pinreceiv'in'g' openings which correspond to the desired angle of tilt for the display shelves. The spring bias then pushes the pins 232 outwardly through the selected pin-receiving openings and the shelves of the display device are positioned at the desired angle. Even in the relatively tight quarters which occur in situations such as that shown in FIG. 9, adjustment of the device is easily accomplished since only a minimum amount of room is required to disengage the pin 232 from a pin-receiving opening. On the other hand, a positive se'curement against unwanted pivoting of the shelf is obtained by the positive engagement of the pin 232 through one of the pin-receiving openings.

Although the brackets 214, 216 as illustrated are shown in slightly different forms for a left and righthanded installation, it should be realized that only one, type of bracket need be constructed since it is easily adapted for operation and either the right or lefthand end of a shelf.

In the display devices according to the present invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 8 and FIGS. 9 through 13 herein, the trays are designed to bemoun'ted on vertical supports with a great deal of flexibility. The trays may be locatedat a variety of difiering heights with differing spaces therebetween and in addition, the/trays may be tilted at varying angles. The lowermost trays, containing such'items as greeting cards, will be tilted to the maximum 3 such that the line of sight of a purchaser is as close to perpendicular as feasible for the items displayed therein.

Conversely, the upper trays will be mounted in a vertical positionto achieve a maximum display for the merchandise at eye level. This is illustrated in FIG. 1. The provision of horizontally elongated slots for the securement of the individual trays to the pivoting brackets permits the trays to be aligned and adjusted and to adjust for any minor mechanical irregularities which may occur from tray to tray and from mounting bracket to mounting bracket as Well as from variations in the positions of the vertical support.

Although two illustrative embodiments of the present invention are illustrated herein, it will be appreciated that the concept of the present invention may be incorporated in other display devices which depart in minor respects from those illustrated herein. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the following claims be construed broadly in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. A card display device comprising a vertical support, a plurality of elongated shelf trays each having bottoms, rear walls and front Walls for receiving cards in an upright orientation resting on said bottoms and leaning against said rear walls and held in position by said front walls, and bracket means securing said shelf trays to said vertical support and for individually and selectively tilting said shelf trays to a number of different positions for maximum visibility of cards displayed in the device, said bracket means comprising one bracket at each end of each of said shelf trays, said brackets each including a first plate having means thereon for securement to said vertical support, a second plate pivotally secured at a shelf pivot to said first plate, means on said second plate for securing one of said shelf trays thereto, a spring loaded detent pin mounted on said first plate movable between a normally extended position wherein the end of said pin extends outwardly from one side of said first plate into the plane of said second plate and a retracted position wherein the end of said pin is even with the side of said first plate, said second plate having formed therein a plurality of pin-receiving openings along an are about said shelf pivot, said pin being movable, by finger pressure, unto said retracted position to permit said second plate to be pivoted with respect to said first plate and to permit a shelf tray supported by a pair of said brackets to be tilted about the 6 axis of said shelf pivots to move said shelf tray into a position for maximum visibility of the cards displayed therein.

2. A card display device comprising a pair of vertically slotted supports, a plurality of elongated shelf trays each having bottoms, rear walls and front Walls for receiving cards in an upright orientation resting on said bottoms and leaning against said rear Walls and held in position by said front Walls, and bracket means securing said shelf trays to said vertical supports and for individually and selectively tilting said shelf trays to a number of different positions for maximum visibility of cards displayed in the device, said bracket means comprising one bracket at each end of each of said shelf trays, said brackets each including a first plate having vertically oriented hooks thereon for securement to said vertically slotted supports, a second plate pivotally secured at a shelf pivot to said first plate, means on said second plate for securing one of said shelf trays thereto, a spring loaded detent pin mounted on said first plate movable between a normally extended position wherein the end of said pin extends outwardly from one side of said first plate into the plane of said second plate and a retracted position wherein the end of said pin is even with the side of said first plate, said second plate having formed therein a plurality of pin-receiving openings along an are about said shelf pivot, said pin being movable, by finger pressure, unto said retracted position to permit said second plate to be pivoted with respect to said first plate and to permit a shelf tray supported by a pair of said brackets to be tilted about the axis of said shelf pivots to move said shelf tray into a position for maximum visibility of the cards displayed therein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 470,037 Cary Mar. 1, 1892 945,280 Lindberg Jan. 4, 1910 1,616,173 Benson Feb. 1, 1927 1,951,617 Kress Mar. 20, 1934 2,305,244 Erickson Dec. 15, 1942 2,427,134 Gronbeck Sept. 9, 1947 2,508,527 Martin May 23, 1950 2,768,043 Kristotf et al Oct. 23, 1956 3,021,961 Ruhnke Feb. 20, 1962 3,084,976 Bahr Apr. 9, 1963 

1. A CARD DISPLAY DEVICE COMPRISING A VERTICAL SUPPORT, A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED SHELF TRAYS EACH HAVING BOTTOMS, REAR WALLS AND FRONT WALLS FOR RECEIVING CARDS IN AN UPRIGHT ORIENTATION RESTING ON SAID BOTTOMS AND LEANING AGAINST SAID REAR WALLS AND HELD IN POSITION BY SAID FRONT WALLS, AND BRACKET MEANS SECURING SAID SHELF TRAYS TO SAID VERTICAL SUPPORT AND FOR INDIVIDUALLY AND SELECTIVELY TILTING SAID SHELF TRAYS TO A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT POSITIONS FOR MAXIMUM VISIBILITY OF CARDS DISPLAYED IN THE DEVICE, SAID BRACKET MEANS COMPRISING ONE BRACKET AT EACH END OF EACH OF SAID SHELF TRAYS, SAID BRACKETS EACH INCLUDING A FIRST PLATE HAVING MEANS THEREON FOR SECUREMENT TO SAID VERTICAL SUPPORT, A SECOND PLATE PIVOTALLY SECURED AT A SHELF PIVOT TO SAID FIRST PLATE, MEANS ON SAID SECOND PLATE FOR SECURING ONE OF SAID SHELF TRAYS THERETO, A SPRING LOADED DETENT PIN MOUNTED ON SAID FIRST PLATE MOVABLE BETWEEN A NORMALLY EXTENDED POSITION WHEREIN THE END OF SAID PIN EXTENDS OUTWARDLY FROM ONE SIDE OF SAID FIRST PLATE INTO THE PLANE OF SAID SECOND PLATE AND A RETRACTED POSITION WHEREIN THE END OF SAID PIN IS EVEN WITH THE SIDE OF SAID FIRST PLATE, SAID SECOND PLATE HAVING FORMED THEREIN A PLURALITY OF PIN-RECEIVING OPENINGS ALONG AN ARC ABOUT SAID SHELF PIVOT, SAID PIN BEING MOVABLE, BY FINGER PRESSURE, UNTO SAID RETRACTED POSITION TO PERMIT SAID SECOND PLATE TO BE PIVOTED WITH RESPECT TO SAID FIRST PLATE AND TO PERMIT A SHELF TRAY SUPPORTED BY A PAIR OF SAID BRACKETS TO BE TILTED ABOUT THE AXIS OF SAID SHELF PIVOTS TO MOVE SAID SHELF TRAY INTO A POSITION FOR MAXIMUM VISIBILITY OF THE CARDS DISPLAYED THEREIN. 